Dynamic Language Blog

TACOMA, WA (Dec. 11, 2013) – Tacoma Community House (TCH), a 103-year-old nonprofit serving the Puget Sound region, and Dynamic Language, a Seattle-based language industry leader for over 28 years, announced today a definitive agreement to transfer the operations of the nonprofit’s interpretation and translation business – a social enterprise known as The Language Bank – to the privately owned company through a contract of sale agreement effective January 1, 2014.

Through the terms of the sale – which includes an undisclosed pricing structure that will help support the operations of the nonprofit for two years – former, current and future Language Bank customers are guaranteed current pricing through December 31, 2015. Language Bank customers will also receive enhanced offerings from Dynamic Language, including 24/7 access to certified interpreters and translators that support more than 150 languages throughout the U.S., hearing and visually impaired services, transcription services, localization services and machine translation services for high-volume content.

“This is a decisive move that accelerates our strategy to advance our mission and positions us to win by offering even greater value to our customers, program participants and our other partners,” said Liz Dunbar, TCH’s executive director. “Through this strengthened partnership developed with Dynamic Language, customers of The Language Bank will receive the same high-quality services as before, only now they will have access to an abundance of new service offerings using the latest technologies with access to over 100 new languages while still supporting the programming we provide to nearly 3,000 immigrants, refugees and low-wage earners throughout the Puget Sound region.”

TCH has operated The Language Bank since 1989, with its largest customer being the state’s Medicaid program for much of that time. In July 2012, after the Medicaid program’s decision to use a single statewide provider for future interpretation services, business revenue declined for the social enterprise by half. Contracting with a business consultant to study The Language Bank’s competitiveness, TCH’s board determined from the study findings that it was not possible for the social enterprise to remain competitive without significant investments in technology and staffing beyond those already being developed for the organization as a whole.

“We are 100% committed to helping our customers succeed, and are excited to partner with Tacoma Community House in bringing new services and technologies to customers of The Language Bank,” said Sandy Dupleich, a Partner with Dynamic Language. For more than 28 years, Dynamic Language has provided language translation, interpretation and localization services to customers around the world. The company is certified as a woman- and minority-owned business, with a reputation for delivering exceptional quality services. Starting as a small language service company in 1985, Dynamic Language has since grown to become one of the largest translation companies in the Pacific Northwest. The company earned its ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System certification in 2012.